Visualization tools for reviewing credibility and stateful hierarchical access to credibility

• US 8,381,120 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dun & Bradstreet Corp., DUN & Bradstreet Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Corp.), Hoover's Incorporated (Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Credibility Corp. (Dun & Bradstreet Corp.)
• Inventors: Stibel, Jeffrey M., Stibel, Aaron B., Hackett, Judith Gentile, Kazerani, Moujan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): NABI, REZA U
• Application Number:
  US13/444,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 314 Days
• Field of Search: 715/780
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a credibility system including an interface portal for presenting a holistic view of entity credibility. To provide the holistic view, the credibility system aggregates credibility data from multiple data sources. The aggregated credibility data is processed and ordered to present different dimensions of entity credibility, with each dimension graphically presented in the interface portal through an interactive credibility module. In some embodiments, the credibility data associated with each credibility module is processed to produce at least one value that quantifiably represents the credibility data. In some embodiments, the credibility data associated with each credibility module is hierarchically ordered to present the credibility data in a drill-down fashion with each hierarchical layer presenting more detailed credibility data for better understanding the credibility data presented in the preceding layer.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI) for interactively presenting entity credibility, the GUI instantiated by computer software stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and configured to perform a computer-implemented method, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving input specifying a specific entity;

presenting, in a display area of the GUI, a set of selectable graphical elements comprising at least first, second, third, and fourth selectable graphical elements;

populating said display area with overall credibility data presenting a credibility score numerically quantifying overall reputation of the specific entity responsive to said first selectable graphical element being selected, wherein the credibility score is derived from credibility data of at least a first dimension of credibility, a second dimension of credibility, and a third dimension of credibility; and

populating said display area with qualitative credibility data presenting the first dimension of credibility for said specific entity responsive to said second selectable graphical element being selected, wherein populating said display area with the qualitative credibility data presenting the first dimension of credibility comprises (i) aggregating a plurality of textual reviews targeting the specific entity from a plurality of social media sites originating said reviews, (ii) computing a review score quantifying sentiment expressed in the plurality of textual reviews, and (iii) populating the display area with the review score and the plurality of textual reviews;

populating the display area with quantitative credibility data presenting the second dimension of credibility for said specific entity responsive to said third selectable graphical element being selected, wherein populating said display area with the quantitative credibility data presenting the second dimension of credibility comprises (i) aggregating a plurality of quantitative ratings from a plurality of rating sites originating said ratings, (ii) computing an overall ratings score for the plurality of quantitative ratings, and (iii) populating the display area with the overall ratings score and the plurality of ratings, wherein each rating of the plurality of ratings is defined according to a scale of values that quantifiably represents reputation of the specific entity; and

populating the display area with network data presenting the third dimension of credibility for said specific entity responsive to said fourth selectable element being selected, wherein populating the display area with the network data presenting the third dimension of credibility comprises presenting (i) a score quantifying credibility of the entity based on network partners of the entity, (ii) a set of updates provided by the network partners, and (iii) a set of suggested partners that are not yet partners of the entity.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising ordering said qualitative credibility data presenting the first dimension of credibility in a set of hierarchical accessible layers comprising at least a first hierarchical layer and a second hierarchical layer.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein said first hierarchical layer comprises the review score and said second hierarchical layer comprises the plurality of textual reviews that detail derivation of the review score in said first hierarchical layer.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the review score of said first hierarchical layer is presented in said display area when the second selectable graphical element is selected and said plurality of textual reviews of said second hierarchical layer is presented in said display area based on a user interaction with the review score of said first hierarchical layer.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the set of hierarchical accessible layers is a first set of hierarchical layers, and the computer-implemented method further comprising ordering said quantitative credibility data presenting the second dimension of credibility in a second set of hierarchical accessible layers comprising at least a first hierarchical layer and a second hierarchical layer.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein said overall rating score of said first hierarchical layer of the second set of hierarchical layers is presented in said display area when the third selectable graphical element is selected and said plurality of ratings of said second hierarchical layer of the second set of hierarchical layers is presented in said display area when drilling down from said overall ratings score of said first hierarchical layer of the second set of hierarchical layers.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising determining a set of actions that positively impact the review score based on complaints identified in the plurality of textual reviews, and wherein populating said display area with the qualitative credibility data presenting the first dimension of credibility further comprises (iv) populating the display area with the set of actions.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein populating said display area with the overall credibility data further comprises presenting a trend depicting changes to the credibility score over a period of time.

9. A computer-implemented method for presenting credibility of an entity, the computer implemented method comprising:

aggregating, from a plurality of different online sites, (i) a plurality of textual reviews targeting the entity, (ii) a plurality of quantitative ratings with each rating of the plurality of ratings quantifying reputation of the entity according to a scale of values, and (iii) a plurality of network partners of the entity;

computing (i) a first score quantifying credibility of the entity based on sentiment expressed in the plurality of textual reviews, (ii) a second score quantifying credibility of the entity based on the plurality of ratings, (iii) a third score quantifying credibility of the entity based on the network partners of the entity, and (iv) an overall credibility score numerically quantifying overall reputation of the entity as derived from at least the first, second, and third scores;

providing a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a plurality of selectable elements and a display area, the plurality of selectable elements comprising a first selectable element providing access to a first dimension of credibility, a second selectable element providing access to a second dimension of credibility, a third selectable element providing access to a third dimension of credibility, and a fourth selectable element providing access to overall credibility of the entity;

populating the display area with the first dimension of credibility in response to selection of the first selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the first dimension of credibility comprises presenting (i) the first score, (ii) a subset of the plurality of textual reviews, and (iii) a first set of suggested actions addressing shortcomings automatically identified in the first dimension of credibility that detrimentally impact the first score, each action of the first set of suggested actions for increasing the first score;

populating the display area with the second dimension of credibility in response to selection of the second selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the second dimension of credibility comprises presenting (i) the second score, (ii) a subset of the plurality of ratings, and (iii) a second set of suggested actions addressing shortcomings automatically identified in the second dimension of credibility that detrimentally impact the second score, each action of the second set of suggested actions for increasing the second score;

populating the display area with the third dimension of credibility in response to selection of the third selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the third dimension of credibility comprises presenting (i) the third score, (ii) a set of updates provided by the network partners, and (iii) a set of suggested partners that are not yet partners of the entity; and

populating the display area with the overall credibility of the entity in response to selection of the fourth selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the overall credibility of the entity comprises presenting the overall credibility score.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of selectable elements further comprises a fifth selectable element providing access to a fourth dimension of credibility.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising populating the display area with the fourth dimension of credibility in response to selection of the fifth selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the fourth dimension of credibility comprises presenting imagery visually identifying at least one of a storefront of the entity and a website of the entity.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising populating the display area with the fourth dimension of credibility in response to selection of the fifth selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the fourth dimension of credibility comprises presenting financial data of the entity.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising populating the display area with the fourth dimension of credibility in response to selection of the fifth selectable element, wherein populating the display area with the fourth dimension of credibility comprises presenting news mentioning the entity.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising computing the first score based on a sentiment expressed in each review of the plurality of reviews, a presence of the entity across the plurality of different online sites, and a number of entities engaged over the different online sites.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising computing the second score based each rating of the plurality of ratings, a presence of the entity across the plurality of different online sites, and a number of entities engaged over the different online sites.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein populating the display area with the first dimension of credibility further comprises presenting a drill-down layer of credibility data that is accessed by interacting with the first score, the drill-down layer of credibility data detailing derivation based on a sentiment expressed in each review of the plurality of reviews, a presence of the entity across the plurality of different online sites, and a number of entities engaged over the different online sites.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein populating the display area with the first dimension of credibility further comprises presenting (iv) a trend illustrating changes to the first score over a period of time.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein populating the display area with the first dimension of credibility further comprises presenting at least a first, second, and third component scores for the first score, the first component score quantifying sentiment expressed in the plurality of textual reviews towards the entity, the second component score determined based on a number of reviews in the plurality of textual reviews, and the third component score determined based on responses to the plurality of textual reviews.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein populating the display area with the first dimension of credibility further comprises presenting an identifier with each textual review of the subset of the plurality of textual reviews, the identifier identifying a social media site from which a textual review is aggregated from.

20. A server comprising a processor and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, said program for interactively accessing credibility of an entity, wherein said program instructs the processor in performing:

receiving input specifying a specific entity;

presenting, in a display area of the GUI, a set of selectable graphical elements comprising at least first, second, third, and fourth selectable graphical elements;

populating said display area with overall credibility data presenting a credibility score numerically quantifying overall reputation of the specific entity responsive to said first selectable graphical element being selected, wherein the credibility score is derived from credibility data of at least a first dimension of credibility, a second dimension of credibility, and a third dimension of credibility; and

populating said display area with qualitative credibility data presenting the first dimension of credibility for said specific entity responsive to said second selectable graphical element being selected, wherein populating said display area with the qualitative credibility data presenting the first dimension of credibility comprises (i) aggregating a plurality of textual reviews targeting the specific entity from a plurality of social media sites originating said reviews, (ii) computing a review score quantifying sentiment expressed in the plurality of textual reviews, and (iii) populating the display area with the review score and the plurality of textual reviews;

populating the display area with quantitative credibility data presenting the second dimension of credibility for said specific entity responsive to said third selectable graphical element being selected, wherein populating said display area with the quantitative credibility data presenting the second dimension of credibility comprises (i) aggregating a plurality of quantitative ratings from a plurality of rating sites originating said ratings, (ii) computing an overall ratings score for the plurality of quantitative ratings, and (iii) populating the display area with the overall ratings score and the plurality of ratings, wherein each rating of the plurality of ratings is defined according to a scale of values that quantifiably represents reputation of the specific entity; and

populating the display area with network data presenting the third dimension of credibility for said specific entity responsive to said fourth selectable element being selected, wherein populating the display area with the third dimension of credibility comprises presenting (i) a score quantifying credibility of the entity based on network partners of the entity, (ii) a set of updates provided by the network partners, and (iii) a set of suggested partners that are not yet partners of the entity.